kHAoS wrote:
GITrekker wrote:
True story -- when the 1997-98 line was first in the works, I was one of a handful of collectors contacted by Hasbro to offer some measure of assistance. In my case, I ended up writing a number of file cards. But that wasn't all.
Along the way, I was asked if I had a figure of Blizzard -- still on its card. At that time, I did. They weren't so much interested in the figure. They needed the artwork for the new package. They didn't have the artwork on file.
So, I sent them my Blizzard. They had to remove him from his card, which I wasn't entirely happy with, but really, how many collectors get to assist Hasbro that directly?
So if you have that 1997 set that includes Blizzard -- that one portion of artwork came from a figure's package that I loaned them.
Did you let Hasbro know they used the wrong figure for Blizzard?
NOT my department...
kHAoS wrote:
Actually, that's a cool bit of trivia. What else did you have a hand in, other than the Blizzard artwork and Volga?
In 1997, I wrote the file cards for the following individuals -- Duke, Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, Baroness, Destro, Lady Jaye, and Cobra Commander. Yeah, seven heavy hitters. No pressure, right? Fortunately, there was plenty of resource material to work with. I also came up with that little blurb on the back of the packages that talks about how "several years have passed", etc, and now Cobra is back. I just sort of threw it in with the file cards, and Hasbro liked it so well they used it.
In 1998, of course, was the Volga character, etc, a story I've told several times in here. I also wrote the file cards for the Oktober Guard, Navy SEAL, and Cobra Infantry sets, and came up with the character name and file card for Vypra. For those who might not be that fond of the name, I had to come up with four different names, and whichever one passed legal checks first, that was the one that would get used. The others I came up with were Vypera, Serpenta, and I honestly don't recall the fourth.
And since I wrote her file card, yes, I am responsible for her real name being "Ann A. Conda". After Hasbro's "Skip A. Stone" for Cutter, and "Albert M. Pine" for Alpine, I thought it was time for a little payback. I figured they'd hate it. Turned out they loved it.
All in all, my "fifteen minutes of fame".
And if anyone had told me when I started collecting G.I. Joes in 1982, that fifteen years later I'd be writing their character profiles and getting my name on the packages, I'd've called for a big net and some tranquilizer darts.